The details of entry and stay in Iceland for British citizens and their family members are still being worked on therefore this page will be updated regularly.
In December 2018, Iceland and the other EEA/EFTA States announced that they had reached an agreement with the UK on protecting citizens’ rights and resolving separation issues arising from the UK’s exit from the EU. This Separation Agreement largely mirrors the Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK.
Part Two of the Separation Agreement between the EEA/EFTA States and the UK, on citizens’ rights, will enter into force at the end of the transition period. Under Part Two of the Agreement, British citizens and their family members will, subject to certain conditions, be able to continue to live and work in Iceland after the end of the transition period, if they were legally residing in Iceland, in accordance with the EU’s Free Movement Directive, before the end of the transition period.
British citizens in Iceland will retain the right to family reunification that they have under current EEA legislation, provided that that the family relationship is established before the end of the transition period, by 31 December 2020. This also applies to children born or adopted after the end of the transition period.
British citizens and their family members who want to live or work in Iceland after the end of the transition period will be subject to the same rules as non-EEA/EU citizens, as set out in the Icelandic Act on Foreigners.
The processing of applications for Icelandic citizenship for British citizens will not be affected by Brexit. The Directorate of Immigration processes applications for Icelandic citizenship in the order in which they are received. There will be no special priority scheme for applications from British citizens.
You can check the processing time for applications for Icelandic citizenship here.
Find out more about the rules for Icelandic citizenship here.
If you are a British citizen and have registered your right of residence at Registers Iceland (í. Þjóðskrá Íslands), you will retain this right. Iceland will be issuing a new type of residence permit card for British citizens who live in Iceland or move to Iceland before the end of the transition period that you can apply for.
The application procedure for the new card is being prepared and due to be introduced in January 2021.
If you have not yet registered your right of residence in Iceland with Registers Iceland, you will have to provide proof that you moved to Iceland before the end of the transition period and that you qualify for residence under the EU Free Movement Directive.
No. If you are a British citizen and have registered your right of residence in Iceland with Registers Iceland (í. Þjóðskrá Íslands) before the end of the transition period, you will not need to meet any new requirements in order to retain your right of residence. Iceland will be issuing a new type of residence permit card for British citizens who live in Iceland or move to Iceland before the end of the transition period that you can apply for.
The application procedure for the new card is being prepared and due to be introduced in January 2021.
If you have not yet registered your right of residence in Iceland with Registers Iceland, you will have to provide proof that you moved to Iceland before the end of the transition period and that you qualify for residence under the EU Free Movement Directive.
Yes, if you are a British citizen residing in Iceland, your spouse will still be able to apply for family reunification after the end of the transition period under the current rules for EU/EEA citizens, if you were married before the date on which the transition period ends. This is included in the Separation Agreement signed by the UK and the EEA/EFTA states.